Historical Museum Guide for Virginia

Virginia History Museums

Monticello - Home of Thomas Jefferson   [Virtual Tour]

The home itself is a work of art to behold.  Archaeological digs have uncovered over 250,000 objects and relics related to the history of the plantation.  Collections include art, books, artifacts, and even the gardens and landscapes of the plantation.  The library features research and reference materials along with the papers of Thomas Jefferson.  Located on Virginia State Route 53 near the intersection of Interstate 64 and Virginia Route 20.

Amherst County Historical Society and Museum

Frontier Culture Museum

[Exhibits]  [Photo Gallery]

An outdoor living history museum, they currently feature six original farm buildings from Britain, Germany and Virginia.  Focus is on the Old World immigrants and how they lived in their homelands, how they came to America and their way of life on the American frontier.

[History of the Masonic Temple Building]

Housed inside the 1895 Masonic Temple, the museum is devoted to the history of Bedford from her early Native American history through the 20th century.  The museum is also headquarters for the Bedford Genealogical Society and research library.  Located at 201 E. Main Street in Bedford, VA.

Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum

The Indian village existed here ca 1215 near Bastian, VA.  The museum features the artifacts discovered in the archaeological digs.  Located off Interstate 77 in the Appalachian Mountains at exit 58.

Botetourt County Historical Society & Museum

Dedicated to the preservation and display of Botetourt County history.  Located behind the Botetourt County Courthouse at 1 W. Main Street in Fincastle, VA.

Avoca Museum  [History]

This lovely country Victorian house was built in 1901 after the original homes of the Charles Lynch family had been destroyed by fire.  The home has been beautifully restored and serves a museum dedicated to the history of the Altavista area.  Located at 1514 Main Street in Altavista, VA.

Green Hill Plantation

The 1797 plantation house is an historic landmark and is currently a private residence.  Address is Virginia Road Number 728, Long Island Vicinity, Campbell County, Virginia.

Point of Honor  [History]  [Photos]

Erected in 1815 by Dr. George Cabell Sr., this lovely Federal style mansion is filled with period furnishings along with household items and artifacts found from the archaeological digs on the surrounding grounds.  Located at 112 Cabell Street in Lynchburg, VA.

Red Hill - Patrick Henry National Memorial 

[Tour Red Hill]  [Patrick Henry's Genealogy]

Visitors can take a step back in time and visit the lovely reconstructed home of Patrick Henry, see his grave and family artifacts.  Located at 1250 Red Hill Road in Brookneal, VA.

James River Plantations

There are actually several plantation homes along Virginia Route 5 in Charles City County, VA.  Sherwood Forest, Westover, Shirley, Evelynton and Berkeley.  Step back into yesteryear when you visit these lovely old plantation homes.

Shirley Plantation   [History]

A working plantation home and private family home.  The home still contains some original furnishings, portraits and artifacts.  It is known as the most intact 18th century estate in the state of Virginia and tours ware offered.  Located at 501 Shirley Plantation Road in Charles City, VA.

Museum of Culpeper History

Essex County Museum & Historical Society

[Essex County History]

Housed inside the old Maddox-Dillard Building in the Colonial Revival style, the museum features exhibits and artifacts related to the rich and varied history of Essex County and the Tappahannock area of Virginia.  Visitors will browse items such as Civil War memorabilia, Rappahannock - Portabago Tribal and colonial era artifacts, photographs and artifacts from Saunders Wharf and the steamboat era and more.  Located at 218 Water Lane in Tappahannock, VA.

George Washington's Mount Vernon  [Mansion Tour]

Gunston Hall Plantation 

[Virtual Tour]  [Mason Family]

Home to George Mason (author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights), the beautiful Georgian style home was built ca 1755-1760 and features period furnishings, magnificent gardens, and rare breeds of livestock and domestic animals to provide the visitor a sense of what plantation life was like in Colonial times.  Located at 10709 Gunston Road in Mason Neck, VA.

Wilderness Road Regional Museum

Franklin County Historical Society and Museum

Abram's Delight - Hollingworth House

Belle Grove Plantation  [History]

The house was built in 1797 of limestone.  Situated on farmland, the plantation was built on grain and livestock.  Today, the house is virtually unchanged.  Through period furnishings and docent guides, the history and times of the late 18th and early 19th centuries will come alive for visitors to the plantation located at 338 Belle Grove Road in Middletown, VA.

George Washington's Office Museum

Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum

Built in 1854, this house served as Stonewall Jackson's headquarters during the Civil War.  The museum features artifacts which belonged to Jackson along with many other items of interest.  Located at 415 N. Braddock Street in Winchester, VA.

Rosewell Ruins

Village View Mansion House

Agecroft Hall

Edgar Allen Poe Museum

James Rover Plantations

Maymont

Old Dominion Railway Museum  [Photos]

Richmond National Battlefield Park

Virginia Historical Society and Museum

Virginia Holocaust Museum

White House of the Confederacy  [Explore the Museum]

Wilton House Museum

Step back in time to the 18th century in this James River Plantation house.  In the Colonial American style, this home was built ca 1753 for William Randolph III Wilton a tobacco planter.  Renowned visitors to the home include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette.  This fine home was purchased and moved to its current site by the Virginia Society of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in 1933.  Furnishings include period textiles, glass, ceramics and silver which reflect the lifestyle of Virginia planters of the mid 18th century.  Located at 215 Wilton Road in Richmond, VA.

McDowell Battlefield

This Civil War battlefield is virtually untouched by the modern world.  Visitors can see the way the battlefield looked in Civil War times.  Re-enactments are performed periodically during the year.  The Highland Museum and Heritage Center relates the story of the Battle of McDowelland provides insight into the history of this area.

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum

Colonial Williamsburg

Belle Isle State Park

Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library

Dicks / Elliott House

Historic Photographs of Lynchburg

Lynchburg Museum at The Old Court House

Take a step into the past and see the history of the Monocan tribes, early Quaker settlers and explore the heritage of the historic city of Lynchburg.  Housed in the Old Court House built in 1855, the museum is filled with treasures of days gone by.  Located at 901 Court Street in Lynchburg, VA.

Sandusky House and Civil War Museum  [Discover Lynchburg]

Greenway

Kemper Mansion  [Kemper Family]

The 1851 home has seen many owners and was used as classrooms by the University at one time.  The notable owner for whom the mansion is named is James Lawson Kemper, a Confederate Civil War Soldier and later Governor and attorney.  Today, the home has been restored, furnished in period style and houses a historical museum which is open on special occasions.  Located on Main Street at the North end of Madison, VA.

Boyd Tavern  [History]

Originally constructed in 1790, Boyd Tavern has been a landmark in the Boydton community for over 200 years.  449 Washington Street, Boydton, VA.

Clarksville Regional Museum

Dedicated to the collection, preservation and display of historical items and artifacts related to the history and culture of Clarksville.  Located at 801 West Street in Clarksville, VA.

Prestwould Plantation

Built in the mid to late 1700s, the impressive home is 2 stories with a full basement and attic.  The mansion was home to Baronet Sir Peyton Skipwith and Lady Jean Skipwith and remained in the Skipwith family for many generations until 1914.  Located just outside of Clarksville, VA, scheduled tours of the grounds are offered.

Coal Mining Heritage Park

Smithfield Plantation

The Wilderness Road Regional Museum

Mariners Museum

Colonial Williamsburg

Reedville Fisherman's Museum

Memorial Foundation of Germanna Colonies of Virginia

Page County Heritage Association

Historic Sites in Prince Edward County

Moton Museum

Wilderness Road Regional Museum

Shenandoah National Park

Theatre at Washington  [Town of Washington]

Edgar Allen Poe Museum

Franklin Street Historic District

Maymont

Museum of the Confederacy

Richmond Historic Sites and Areas

Richmond National Battle Field

Virginia Holocaust Museum

Virginia House

Wilton House Museum

History Museum and Historical Society of Western Virginia

Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society and Museum

Reuel B. Pritchett Museum

The museum is part of the Alexander Mack Memorial Library at Bridgewater College.  Artifacts collections include American Civil War, Native American, The Rev. Reuel B. Pritchett Church of the Brethren collection and items related to early pioneer life.  Located in Cole Hall, Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA.

Natural Tunnel State Park

The tunnel was created by glacier activity and the walls show evidence of prehistoric life and many fossils can be found inside.  Located about 13 miles north of Gate City on Route 871.

Hotel Keller Memorial Museum

[Hottel - Keller Genealogy]  [History]

[Hottel-Keller Historical Sites in Shenandoah County]

Hottel-Keller Memorial Inc. operates the Shenandoah Germanic Heritage Museum which is located at the original Keller Homestead.  The homestead was purchased via a land grant from Lord Thomas Fairfax in 1750.  The focus of the museum is on the heritage of early Germanic immigrants who moved into the great valley of Virginia.  The museum provides living history exhibits, programs, archives and genealogies.  Located on Virginia highway 623 in Mount Olive, VA.

Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park

Martha Washington Inn

Shot Tower Historical State Park

Built over 150 years ago, the historic tower was used to make ammunition for early settlers.  On Route 52.

Virginia City - Ghost Town

Museum Index for Other States

Virginia Census Records